Number ball

ABSTRACT

A number ball assembled by an upper and lower ball housings for playing a lotto or bingo game and disposed with an integrated circuit chip inserted therein for a sensor to detect and read is characterized that the spherical surfaces combined by the upper and lower ball housings have six symmetric planes as that on a dice. Various figures or numbers are printed on the surfaces. The surfaces are easier to be printed than that on a conventional spherical number ball; the printed figure is larger and the combination of the spheroid is easier to be positioned and recognized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a number ball structure, more especially to a number ball which changes the style of a conventional spheroid and has a dice-like hexahedral design easy for printing numbers or figures thereon as well as for positioning and recognition.

[0003] 2) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Accordingly, a conventional number ball used in a lotto game or a bingo game, as the one disclosed in “Improved Number Ball” of Taiwan Patent Number 309794, is a spheroid disposed with a plurality of same numbers at different steering angles. A bar code and an indicating line are disposed on respective top and bottom ends in the positive orientation of the number. A sensor scans the bar code thereby transmitting the signals to a computer or a processor for displaying the picked number.

[0005] However, the abovementioned number ball in the previously disclosed patent has the following shortcomings:

[0006] 1. It is difficult to print numbers, bar codes, indicating lines or figures (such as porker card figures) on the spherical planes of the spherical number ball.

[0007] 2. Relatively, the figures suitable for being printed on the spherical number ball are smaller.

[0008] 3. It is hard to distinguish the numbers or figures on the arcuate planes of the spherical number ball.

[0009] 4. It is hard to position the arcuate planes of the spherical number ball.

[0010] 5. The supporting arcuate planes of the spherical number ball are subjected to frictional damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Therefore, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved number ball structure of a hexahedral number ball assembled by an upper and lower ball housings to form six round planes for facilitating the printing of numbers and figures, having larger printed figures than that of a conventional spheroid and for easier positioning as well as recognition.

[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved number ball structure, wherein circular posts inside the upper and lower ball housings insert and connect to form the number ball; an integrated circuit chip inserts into a post hole of the circular post on the upper ball housing allowing a sensor to detect the number in the number ball.

[0013] To enable a further understanding of the structural features and the technical contents of the present invention, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is an external view drawing of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded drawing of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional drawing of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to all the Figures, the present invention comprises of an upper ball housing (1), a lower ball housing (2) and an integrated circuit chip (3), wherein the upper and lower ball housings (1, 2) are symmetric with circular posts (11, 21) disposed respectively therein. The circular post (11) of the upper ball housing (1) inserts into a post hole (211) on the circular post (21) of the lower ball housing for positioning. Rim sides (12, 22) of the upper and lower ball housings (1, 2) are glued by adhesive glue to form a hexahedral spheroid, as shown in FIG. 1, with six symmetric round planes (101) as that on a dice. Various figures (102), for example, the porker card figures, or numbers are printed on the planes (101). Therefore, the number ball (10) of the present invention has the six planes of a dice and also the easily rolling ability of a spheroid.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the integrated circuit chip (3) inserts into the post hole (111) on the circular post (11) of the upper ball housing (1) for a sensor to detect and read as well as transmit the detected signal to a computer or a processor for processing, distinguishing and displaying the picked number or figure.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 4, for playing a lotto or bingo game, the number ball (10) of the present invention rolls in a slightly slanted ball channel (4) for facilitating its rolling movement.

[0021] In summation of the abovementioned, the number ball structure of the present invention uses a hexahedral number ball as a rolling ball for playing a lotto or a bingo game; it is easy to print various figures or numbers on the six planes of the number ball; furthermore, the printable area thereon is larger and so are the printed figures; the spheroid is easy for positioning and recognition. Therefore, the practical functional effect of the present invention is unquestionable.

[0022] It is of course to be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A number ball comprising an upper and lower ball housings as well as an integrated chip fixed in the spheroid assembled by the upper and lower ball housings with rim sides thereof glued by adhesive glue is characterized that: the number ball combined by the upper and lower ball housings has six symmetric planes respectively printed with various figures or numbers.
 2. A number ball according to claim 1, wherein a circular post is disposed respectively in the upper and lower ball housings with the circular post of the upper ball housing inserted into a post hole on the circular post of the lower ball housing.
 3. A number ball according to claim 1, wherein the integrated chip inserts into a post hole on the circular post of the upper ball housing for a sensor to detect and read. 